Soring Valor - The trip of a lifetime for students and WWII veterans

This post shows what can happen when a person has a good idea and acts on it, and when another person has a good idea and acts on it, and peoples' lives are changed for the better as a result.

A couple of years ago, Gary Sinise began coordinating and funding Soaring Valor trips to send some of the last living World War II veterans to the Nat'l WWII museum in New Orleans. He did this because he had developed a passion and an appreciation for our active service members and veterans. Prior to this week, his foundation had partnered with American Airlines, the museum, and the Air Power Foundation to sponsor 5 of these trips. Here's a link to show how these trips have gone. https://youtu.be/l3P15s4zWNQ

About 9 months ago, I got a call from Tricia Palmersheim who teaches 5th grade in GCISD. Her husband, Jim, is the Director of Veterans Affairs for American Airlines and has worked closely with Gary on Soaring Valor. Tricia and Jim invited me to facilitate the first student-veteran paired trip to the museum. Wow. An incredible opportunity and an enormous undertaking.

We, of course, said yes and began planning all of the events that just wrapped up yesterday. Through a districtwide contest (including nearly 1000 juniors), 40 students were selected from Grapevine High, Colleyville Heritage High, and Collegiate Academy in GCISD. On Tuesday night we had a community send-off in which the students met the veterans they'd be paired with on the trip. Veterans ranged in age from 88-101 and were accompanied by a guardian to assist with their care.

Gary Sinise, Mary Eisenhower (granddaughter of the president), Gary Littrell (Medal of Honor recipient), Steve Amerson (America's Tenor), and Doug Dunbar (journalist from CBS News 11) all participated in the program on Tuesday. All (except Amerson) also traveled on the museum trip. A group of 25 GCISD teachers, instructional coaches, and administrators also traveled with students and veterans. The majority of the cost of the entire experience was covered by the sponsors, and the students had not a single expense.

There really are no words to describe the enormity of the week. Students and veterans interacted respectfully, tenderly, and curiously during their walk through the exhibits. Many of our veterans' names and battles were featured throughout the tours. Students were literally walking arm in arm with living history. Tears were shed between students and vets, and bonds were formed that will last long beyond this trip.

It is a chapter in my career that I'll never forget, and a week for which I'll always be grateful. I'd highly encourage all who read this to visit the New Orleans museum, donate to the Gary Sinise Foundation, and consider the profound question that Gary posed to us at dinner on our first night of the trip. "What would our world be like today if these veterans hadn't chosen to serve, fight, and win the war?"